State Of Maine Action Plan For Managing Invasive Aquatic .

State of MaineAction Plan For Managing Invasive Aquatic SpeciesAdopted by theLand and Water Resources CouncilAnd theInteragency Task Force On Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance SpeciesOctober 10, 2002

AcknowledgementsThis plan was drafted for the Interagency Task Force On Invasive AquaticPlants and Nuisance Species by:H. Dominie Consulting of Readfield, MaineandTask Force’s Technical SubcommitteeRoy Bouchard and John McPhedran, Department of EnvironmentalProtection and federal AIS Task Force: Northeast Panel Member; DonCameron, Maine Natural Areas Program and New England Invasive PlantGroup Member, DOC; Dr. Russell Danner, Department of Inland Fisheriesand Wildlife; Ann Gibbs, Department of Agriculture, Food, and RuralResources; Mark McCoullough, Department of Inland Fisheries andWildlife; Kate O’Brien, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge; PeteThayer, Department of Marine Resources and federal AIS Task Force:Northeast Panel Member; and Scott Williams, Volunteer Lake MonitoringProgram.Interagency Task Force OnInvasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance SpeciesRoy Bouchard, Chair, Maine Dept. of Environmental ProtectionNancy Beardsley, Maine Drinking Water ProgramShippen Bright, Maine Lakes Conservancy and National Invasive SpeciesCouncil Advisory Committee MemberJim Chandler, Recreational Watercraft Owners Assoc.Gary Cobb, Maine Sporting Camp AssociationMichael Crooker, Town of BradleyRussell Danner, MS, DVM, Maine Dept. Inland Fisheries & WildlifeMary Jane Dillingham, Auburn Water DistrictDebbie Gardner, Maine Marine Trade AssociationAnn Gibbs, Dept. of Agriculture, Food, & Rural ResourcesBecky Linney, Public member w/ expertise in gardening and educationEllen Peters, Rangeley Region Sportsmans AssociationDale Pierson, Pierson NurseriesGeorge Powell, Dept. of ConservationMatt Scott, Public member w/ expertise in lake ecologyClyde Walton, Congress of Lake AssociationsScott Williams, Volunteer Lake Monitoring ProgramTask Force StaffJohn McPhedran, DEP Invasive Aquatic Species Program CoordinatorOther ContributorsTask Force Alternates: Sally Dyer (E. Peters)Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources: TomEddy, Gary FishMaine Department of Environmental Protection: Karen Hahnel, DaveHalliwell, Christine Smith, David Van WieMaine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: David Basley, PeterBourque, Dave Boucher, Ken Elowe, Don Kleiner, Dennis McNeish, TimPeabody, Mike Sawyer, Steve Timpano, Mike SawyerMaine Department of Marine Resources: John Sowles, JosephFessendon, Linda Mercer, Penn EstabrookMaine Land Use Regulation Commission: Fred ToddUS Fish and Wildlife Service: Sandra Keppner (Aquatic Nuisance SpeciesCoordinator), Cynthia Boettner (Silvio O. Conte National Fish and WildlifeRefuge)Other: Ann Bove, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation,Dr. James Carlton, Williams College, Williamstown, MA; Linda Gregory,Acadia National Park; Marcia Spencer-Famous, Maine WetlandProfessionals Association, LURC; Dana Wallace, retired, DMR; KatherineWebster, University of Maine at OronoThe Task Force is particularly grateful to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceand the states of Massachusetts, Washington, and Vermont, among otherstate and federal entities, for leading the way and allowing the free use ofplans and other documents developed for the effective understanding andmanagement of invasive aquatic species. Cover image credits: KarenHahnel, Garrett Coffin, USFWS & Gulf of Maine Coastal Program, CornellUniversity, and 100th Meridian.org.Financial SupportThe Task Force appreciates financial support for this project from a DavisConservation Fund grant to the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program& from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.2

October 10, 2002SummaryThis plan will guide the State of Maine in managing invasive aquaticspecies over the next 4 years. Mandated by the Legislature, it wasdeveloped by the Interagency Task Force On Invasive Aquatic Plants andNuisance Species for the Land and Water Resources Council.An invasive aquatic organism is one that has been moved from its nativeaquatic habitat to a new location, even nearby, and causes significant harmto that new environment. Such organisms spread naturally, but humanactivities are spreading them much more rapidly through such means as: Transportation between waters on water-contact vehicles, gear andequipment; Fragmentation and spread within already infested waters; Release or inadvertent escape into the wild; Discharge of untreated live wastes from marine processingfacilities; and Release of ballast water and navigation of infested hulls in marinewaters.Invasive milfoil and other aquatic plants are not the only threat tofreshwaters – harmful animals such as non-native fish and the zebra musselare just as likely to be introduced, and marine and wetland invasiveorganisms threaten other aquatic habitats. Maine’s climate, waterchemistry, and geographic isolation make it the last state in line generally tohost invasive aquatic infestations so we still have time to take preventivemeasures for many freshwater and wetland species. But the dynamics ofthe Gulf of Maine make our state highly vulnerable to marine infestationsno matter what we do – in which case we can only anticipate and lessentheir impacts.While many introduced species bring great benefits such as food andlandscaping products, invasive species promise serious biological andsocio-economic impacts. They can: Displace native species filling same ecologic niche; Reduce biodiversity; Disrupt food webs; Degrade habitats; Suppress property values and drain public coffers; Impair commercial fishing and aquaculture;Degrade recreational experiences;Impair public water supplies;Threaten native fish populations and s poil sport fisheries;Degrade coastal infrastructure; clog or foul pipes and drainageditches; andThreaten public health.Many other states are looking to Maine for ideas because we have movedfast to curb the introduction and spread of milfoil and other invasivefreshwater plants. We have instituted an inspection and education programsupported through a boat sticker program; and authorized the Departmentsof Environmental Protection and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to regulatesurface use in plant-infested waters. But we also have much to learn fromother states and provinces that have been dealing with other types oforganisms. This plan guides and coordinates the policies and programs ofstate agencies and action partners involved in managing invasive aquaticspecies. It also sets priorities for obtaining funds to support plannedactivities.A key part of Maine’s approach is an Advisory List of Invasive AquaticSpecies found in Appendix D of this plan. Organisms on the list are thosemost likely to be a concern in Maine. The list provides an assessment ofthe relative threat that each organism poses and the crucial pathways ofspread to address. It groups the organisms by habitat (freshwater, wetland,and marine) and management category (prevention and eradication;selective control and/or impact management; and no action at this time).Four key goals underpin Maine’s Action Plan:1. Educate the public and people involved in business, trade, researchand government so well about invasive aquatic species that they donot facilitate the introduction or spread of species throughactivities over which they have control;2. Prevent new introductions of invasive aquatic species into the stateto the extent possible;3. Limit the spread of established populations to other waters of thestate; and4. Reduce the harmful effects resulting from infestations of invasiveaquatic species by managing those that cannot be eradicated.i

October 10, 2002Five objectives organize the work to be done:1. Provide effective leadership, coordination and programmonitoring,2. Raise awareness and educate the public well,3. Strengthen programs to avoid introduction and transport,4. Be prepared to respond rapidly and control spreading, and5. Effectively inventory, research, and manage information.Leading strategies stand out:1. Freshwater Plants and Organisms That Travel With Them: First line of defense: The fledgling watercraft inspectionprogram for milfoil and other macrophytes will bestrengthened so that it is as effective as a voluntary programcan be. It will be expanded to include tidal rivers and alsoinform the public about zebra mussels and other organismsthat are transported with these plants; Second line of defense: A monitoring and rapid responsesystem will be established to eradicate new infestations.Maine will move to a mandatory inspection program or otherstringent controls should infestations occur beyond acceptablethresholds.2. Illegal Fish Introductions First line of defense: Stocking of any fish into any water of thestate requires a permit from DIFW. DIFW will continue toregulate transfers in this manner. A high priority will beplaced on developing a regular, ongoing public informationand education effort to increase public awareness of theimpacts of illegal fish introductions and the need for publicsupport and assistance with the enforcement of laws designedto discourage unauthorized fish introductions. A very highpriority will be placed on the enforcement of laws designed toprevent the illegal introduction of fish species. Second line of defense: DIFW will establish and maintain acontingency program including staff, training, equipment, andfinancial resources necessary to provide a speedy and credibleresponse to illegal introductions. DIFW will remove the fishif feasible to do so. Chemical reclamation is the mostcommon and effective means of achieving this goal. DIFWwill afford no specific regulatory protection to any fish speciesintroduced illegally. Where a practical benefit can bereasonably expected, DIFW will adopt regulations designed tomaximize the take of illegally introduced species to the benefitof indigenous species, requiring catch disposal where healthadvisories rule out consumption.DIFW’s ability to achieve these goals may be hampered bylimited staff and financial resources.3.Marine Species:Since Maine has no defense against species that are introduced intomarine waters on the East Coast, the State will seek to understandthe ecology and impacts of species that have the greatest potentialto disrupt Maine’s commercial fisheries and marine infrastructure.4.All Species:Maine will identify invasive aquatic organisms coming into thestate, list and prohibit the most harmful as appropriate, and informretailers, wholesalers, and the public about how to avoidintroduction and spread, in collaboration with the Northeast Paneland other states and provinces.The plan includes the following tasks; high priority tasks are indicatedwith a “ ”:1. Leadership, Coordination, & Program Monitoring1A1 Including marine representation on task force 1A2 Expanding coverage to marine waters supported by boatsticker 1BEnsuring ongoing interagency coordination1CInstituting a plan update process1D1 Coordinating at the regional level 1D2 Coordinating at the national level1Ea Reviewing sticker program 1Eb Training sticker vendors2.Education and Outreach2AEstablishing a lead coordinator2B1 Conducting a general information & education campaign2B2 Creating uniform educational materials2B3 Monitoring progress through public perceptions2C1 Targeting watercraft transport pathway education 2C2 Targeting release into the wild pathway education ii